OTTAWA — The Royal Canadian Air Force has a new commander.
Lt.-Gen. Michael Hood assumed the post today in a colourful ceremony at the Canadian Aviation Museum that included a 100-person honour guard.
He succeeded Lt.-Gen. Yvan Blondin, a former CF-18 fighter pilot who is retiring after 35 years in the military and almost three years as the air force's top commander.
During his tenure, the Harper government hit the pause button on the controversial F-35 purchase.
And Blondin stirred up a tempest last fall by suggesting on Twitter that Canada's bombing campaign in Iraq was revenge for the murders of Canadian soldiers by Islamic-inspired extremists.
Hood, the new top gun, started his military career in the infantry as a guardsman with the Canadian Grenadier Guards before enrolling in the Regular Force and receiving his wings in 1988.
His flying career was spent on C-130 Hercules transports, and as an electronic warfare officer aboard C-144 Challengers.
He commanded two squadrons, as well as the country's largest military air base in Trenton, Ont., before serving in major staff positions, including director of the Strategic Joint Staff, the military's nerve-centre.
